Early on, Kravis raised stakes for local arts scene

Historically, Palm Beach has been a tough neighborhood for grassroots arts organizations.

As a native, I’ve known several periods when local artists and their supporters anticipated a new cultural renaissance, only to have their hopes dashed with the next recession.

It was during one such downturn, early in 1993, that I did my “I already gave at the Kravis” cartoon for the Palm Beach Daily News. It captured the frustration of local grassroots arts organizations at a time when the sparkling new Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts appeared to be the only thriving entity in town.

The Kravis Center was in its first season and operating with a surplus after having raised $75 million during a decade-long capital campaign.

Supporters of smaller arts organizations had been squawking about having to compete for donor dollars with the performing arts center for years. On the other hand, Will Ray, president of the Palm Beach County Cultural Council, was consistently out in front arguing that the project was a cultural magnet that spawned new high-profile philanthropy for the entire arts community.

Evidence came down on both sides of the debate. The Norton Museum of Art admitted delaying expansion plans over concerns about competing with the Kravis campaign, but later said its own fundraising efforts were enhanced in the new environment the Kravis created.

Still, many smaller organizations must have breathed a sigh of relief when the glitzy new facility finally opened. Unfortunately, several new revelations in February and early March of 1993 threw them back into the turmoil that inspired this cartoon.

With the early ’90s recession in full swing, the state Legislature threatened to ax art grants funding as an austerity move. Many local and nonprofit arts organizations, such as Ballet Florida, depended on these grants to survive.

And then, the Kravis Center board announced it would launch a $2 million fundraising campaign to help pay for its next season of entertainment. So the local competition for donor dollars would continue.

But perhaps even more devastating to organizations that used the facility, the Kravis announced it would raise its rental and parking fees, and eliminate discounts on tech and rehearsal time.

Palm Beach Opera was in the midst of its subscription drive when the increases were announced and could not raise rates. They would need to address the shortfall with donations.

The Kravis and the surrounding arts community eventually found equilibrium, even though many grassroots arts organizations continue to have rough sailing from time to time.

In Palm Beach County, with a tourism- and development-based economy that’s susceptible to downturns, organizations have to be at the top of their game. Fortunately, each new wave of arts growth strengthens the quality of our arts community. The role that the Kravis Center plays today is a testament to that.